SPRING PRAYER 
AND OTHER POEMS 



By ADAM BRAND 




Class JiLl_.i.kiL 



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SPRING PRAYER AND 
OTHER POEMS 



SPRING PRAYER 

AND OTHER POEMS 



BY 

ADAM BRAND 




THE CORNHILL PUBLISHING COMPANY 
BOSTON 






Copyright 1922 
By the CORNHILL PUBLISHING COMPANY 



All rights reserved 



Printed in the United States of America 

THE JORDAN & MORE PRESS 
BOSTON 

MAY 1 1 1922 

g)CI.A661700 
- . - f 



TO 



CONTENTS 



PAGE 

Spbing Peayee 3 

A Song of Fate 4 

Peace 7 

The Message from the Sea 8 

Songster 8 

Twilight 10 

The Silent Singer 11 

Geniuses Differ 12 

June 13 

Tempest and Sunshine 13 

To A Rose 14 

When Autumn Leaves Have Deckeu the Ground ... 15 

Indian Summer 17 

Love's Smile or Tear 17 

A Vision 18 

Two Ideals 19 

February 20 

Survival of the Fittest 21 

A Valentine 22 

To A Physician on Her Birthday 23 

Newark 24 

Our Leader 26 

Voices 28 

The Song of the "Sub" 29 

To A Friend on His Wedding-Day 31 

The Essence of Life 32 

The Cycle Divine 32 

Alone 33 

Poetry 33 



SPRING PRAYER AND 
OTHER POEMS 



SPRING PRAYER 

Wondrous Nature ! Visible God ! 

I feel thy power divine 
And humbly bow within my heart 

To worship at thy shrine. 

When gentle Spring transforms the earth, 

Erstwhile so drear and cold, 
Into a blooming Eden of life, 

What need of marvels old! 

Enough the smiling sunbeam's cheer 

And earth 's reviving breast ; 
Enough the modest sprouting bud 

To hail thy bounties blest. 

From every twig, on wings ethereal. 
The song-bird's warbling lay; 

From every sphere creation's hynm 
Ascends to praise and pray. 

Bounteous Nature! Provident God! 

To thee I voice my lay : 
Grant, O grant each yearning heart 

A cheering, hopeful ray! 



Spring Prayer and Other Poems 

A SONG OF FATE 

(Dedicated to the Allied Soldiers, April 191^) 

Not yet the inevitable paean — 
Wlio knows that glorious date 
Which nature set when life began 
And civilization dawned! — 
Nor ever a savage Chant of Hate 
With which they spur the heart of slave. 
Let those by abject vassals fawned 
Point flimsy fangs of calumny 
To pierce eternal freedom's heart 
And lay its immortal spirit low! — 
This is a song for freedom's brave 
Who have dared to take its part 
And vowed to kill vile tyranny 
That democracy may live. 
This is a song that true men know 
And, knowing, will not misgive — 
This is a song of Fate ... 

Where, where are the dreams of empire 
That drenched the world in blood. 
And held the clock of progress still. 
With ambition's mad desire? 
Where's Alexander, Macedonia's pride, 
Who shook the world at will ; 
Great Caesar, too, whose conquering heel 
Made many a mighty kingdom reel 



Spring Prayer and Other Poems 

And oft on royal neck has trod; 

Where's Attila, the Scourge of God, i 

And his hordes like a human flood; \ 

And Napoleon, beloved and feared, j 
Who out of chaos dominions reared. 

Who held a trembling world at bay i 

And trampled on thrones with haughty stride ^ 

Like a child with toys at play ! \ 

Where are they all who sought their glory j 

In sword and cannon and fields all gory, ! 

Who saw no light save ambition's gleam — ■ 

Where are they! — There too a kaiser's dream. ■ 

Then fight once more brave freemen. 
Wield sweet freedom's sword : 

To save our babes and women , 

And bend a tyrant's knee; I 

Aim with an eye that sees no goal \ 

Save bleeding heart of tyranny ! 



Strike once more brave freemen ! 

And make them pay the toll — f, 

They who seek to conquer j 

With iron, blood and lies ; \ 

Strike once more brave soldiers, \ 

Cut down that savage horde j 

That knows no bonds of honor ! 
And God and man defies; 
Strike hard, you sacred soldiers 

Battling for human laws: \ 



Spring Prayer and Other Poems 

'Tis a fight 'tween beast of jungle 
And mankind it abhors ! 
Fight on, you sacred soldiers, 
You fight for a holy cause ! 

Back of each steadfast sailor 

Fighting upon the sea, 

Back of each steadfast soldier 

Fighting that the world be free. 

Stands in its radiant glory 

The spirit of liberty. 

In place of each fallen sailor 

Fallen upon the sea. 

In place of each fallen soldier 

Fallen in freedom's war. 

Stands Liberty with flag unfurled 

Proclaiming freedom for the world. 

Then fight, imperilled freedom's soldiers 
Battling for human laws. 
Fight on, you valiant soldiers 
Wresting the world from despot claws ; 
Stand fast, you sacred soldiers. 
Fight on for the holy cause — 
Fight on and shout with every breath 
'Till the world re-echoes ^'Liberty — 
.Democracy or death!" 



Spring Prayer and Other Poems 



PEACE 

Nov. II, I pip 

Sleep! Sleep brave boys in sunny France, 

In Flanders Fields and graves unnamed — 

Sleep! ... No more the shrieks of hellish war, 

The dying moan of gassed and maimed, 

The fallen soldier's farewell glance 

Seeking with darkened, glassy eyes 

Beloved faces seen no more — 

No more shall thoughts of broken ties 

Break the hearts by battle steeled 

To suffer wounds that can't be healed. . . . 

Sleep ! Sleep brave boys you Ve given all — 

What now to you who lost or won ! 

Each heard his country's honor call. 

Each fought its ^ght — your work is done. 

German or Ally — Russian or Turk — 

A man 's a man — the world is one. 

No more shall breezes wafting by 

Echo the dying soldier's cry. 

From fields where war was wont to lurk 

Paeans of peace ring to the sky. 



Spring Prayer and Other Poems 



THE MESSAGE FROM THE SEA 

'Tis a glorious day 

To steal away 
To the soothing sound of the sea. 

Forget your troubles, 

They are but bubbles, 
On a thawing, roaring sea. 

Winter is past, 

'Tis Spring at last — 
Rejoice with the wallowing waves set free. 

Forget your troubles, 

They are but bubbles. 
Is the message from the sea. 



SONGSTER 

Tell me, birdie, 

Why you sing 
With your gurgling. 

Trilling ring 
In the sunshine. 

In the shade. 
Over mountain, 

In the glade! 
Does Reason never check your lay; 
Does Feeling never cloud the day! 



Spring Prayer and Other Poems 



Soaring boldly 

In the sky, 
Weaving sweetness 

As you fly, 
Dropping music 

Through the air. 
Your spirit shuns 

The world of care. 
What giddy gladness swells your throat, 
What merry madness trills your note? 

Has nature drained 

Creation's store 
Of all delight 

It could outpour. 
To fill your breast 

With gushing joy 
And make your life 

A singing toy? 
I envy you the minstrelsy 
And crave your joy, so full and free. 

Winged siren. 

Celestial sprite! 
teach my soul 
Your joyous flight! 
Impel its earth-stained wings to fly 
Beyond the cloud, to sunny sky. 



10 Spring Prayer and Other Poems 



TWILIGHT 

Twilight, faint and dreamy, veils the pallid dawn 
From the rising blushes of the rosy mom. 

Twilight, gray and gloomy, like a misty screen 
Covers with its shadow sunset's glowing scene. 
Sunken is the world-torch in a sea of light ; 
Amid the waves of splendor, submerged in bound- 
less night. 

Neither morn nor evening ; neither sun nor moon ! 
Hesitating twilight: What will follow soon? 

Twilight, faint and dreamy, wraps my wandering 

soul 
In a silvery cloud drifting to a goal. 

Twilight, sad and solemn, like the sages hoary. 
Sheds reflective light on deluding glory — 
Sheds prophetic light on departed sorrows 
Which, like raven-shadows, cloud unborn to-mor- 
rows. 

Neither toil nor rest ; neither tax nor boon ! 
Hesitating soul-light: What will follow soon? 



Spring Prayer and Other Poems 11 



THE SILENT SINGER 

Silence seals my bursting breast 

Where raging passion turns 
To soul-tormenting tongues of fire 

"Whose speechless anguish bums. 

Fain would I bid my hoping heart 

Beat loud with joyous song, 
That all life's weary wanderers 

Might hear a cheering tongue. 

Fain would I forge poetic shafts — 

Golden sparks from glowing rage ; | 

Decry the ills of loveless life — - j 

Invoke a Golden Age. ' 

But ah ! when still in restless youth 

My Muse communed with me, 
She laid her finger on my lips j 

To calm a Galilee — ; 

To calm my wrathful, storming heart ' 

That groaned with world-borne pain | 

And bid unfettered feelings halt, , 

Unwelcome song restrain. | 



12 Spring Prayer and Other Poems 



Majestic Muse that high enthroned 
Inspires the poet's heart, 

Unseal my lips that to the world 
A message would impart ! 

teach my clamoring heart to pray 
In hymns that reach the sky, 

And rouse the gods to set aright 
A world that 's gone awry. 

tune my clamoring heart to sing 

Or mark my star above : 
He, also, sings who unheard prays 

For brotherhood and love. 



GENIUSES DIFFER 

A Newton saw an apple fall 
And forthwith found a law . . . 
A huckster saw an apple fall — 
Picked it up and looked for more. 



Spring Prayer and Other Poems 13 \ 

\ 

JUNE I 

Joyful greetings welcome summer's advent; j 

Unlocked is Nature's rejuvenating gift. j 

New life again imbues the universe, j 

Enriched by Nature's resourceful thrift. ! 



TEMPEST AND SUNSHINE 

The world grew dark and dreary, 

Grim care eclipsed the sun; 
My heart was sad and weary 

With strife for goals unwon. 

^^But don't I love you still," she smiled 
Like a blushing rose unfurled ; 

Her luscious lips my care beguiled — 
And sunshine filled the world. 



14 Spring Prayer and Other Poems 



TO A ROSE 

Good morning, Queen of the garden, 
Good morning, lovely rose. 

How balmy is the scented air 
In which you breathe repose ! 

I smell your perfume sweet, ere smiles 

Your face of ruddy hue ; 
I long to see your dainty cheeks 

Kissed by the morning dew. 

Oft when tired of life's contention 

And seeking blessed calm, 
I long to be in your presence 

And breathe your soothing balm. 

Ah, fairest of all fair flowers, 

How happy is your lot ! 
You please the king in castle. 

The poor man in his cot. 



Spring Prayer and Other Poems 15 i 

WHEN AUTUMN LEAVES HAVE DECKED 
THE GROUND 

When autumn leaves have decked the ground, • 

Hear the sigh 

Heaved to the sky, 
With a weird and windy wail 

Through the caves. 

O'er the waves. 

Hear the howling, fitful gust! 

How he raves 

'er the graves ! 
Does he mourn o'er shrouded heart 

Of our dearest, 

Very nearest? 

When autumn leaves have decked the ground 

Then I see 

Each solemn tree, 
A phantom which the sod enthralls, 

While it sways 

As it prays. 

Then I hear the Druids whisper, 

Spirit lore 

Tales of yore. 
How some haunting, spectral creature 

Lurked in woods 

With fiendish broods. 



16 Spring Prayer and Other Poems 



When autumn leaves have decked the ground 

And birds have flown 

To nests unknown, 
Then a saddened eye is turned 

Where the rose 

Perfumed repose. 

Then snowy winter's icy hand 

Stretches forth 

From the north, 
With its frigid, chilling grip 

To regain 

His domain. 

When autumn leaves have decked the ground 

And bloom of May 

Is blo^Ti away. 
Then I miss, oh, how I miss 

The cheering rays 

Of summer days. 

Then I stroll o'er leafy ways, 

In pensive mood 

Through naked wood, 
As of a fading face I think. 

Old but dear. 

Far yet near. 



Spring Prayer and Other Poems 17 



INDIAN SUMMER 

Sweet, Love's greeting kiss that means 

Far more than tongue can tell ; 
But sweeter still the kiss that weans 

Love's lingering farewell. j 

Thus Indian summer, parting smile 

From Nature's kindly heart, 
That cheers the world yet a while 

Ere warmth and bloom depart. 



LOVE'S SMILE OR TEAR 

Sometimes emotions strangely fired 

Set the heart aglow. 
And ere cold reason has inquired 

Cupid draws his bow. ■ 

But oh, how sweet is joy or pain — ; 

Sweet love's smile or tear: i 

The sun shines through the dimming rain \ 

When loving hearts are near. ! 



18 Spring Prayer and Other Poems 



A VISION 

Night's glimmering curtain faded . . . 
The sun peered through the gray; 
And mirthful rays like dancing elves 
Announced the birth of day. 

The scattered stars with twinkling darts 
Vainly sought to pierce earth's gloam; 
But morning's glow — concentred light — 
Eevealed man's future home. 

There peace and plenty filled each land 
And genial love each heart ; 
There truthless trade and grasping greed 
Were banished from the mart. 

No liberty to license turned 
Or Ego loomed sublime ; 
No despot's trampling tyranny 
To mar the tales of time ! 

But onward, onward to the goal 
Of universal right, 
Ever rolled the future world 
Propelled by love and light. 



Spring Prayer and Other Poems 19 



TWO IDEALS 

The rain poured down in torrents 

Upon the aged head ' 

Of a woman walking feebly 

With labored, trembling tread. j 

\ 

She heeded not the torrents, | 

The cold autumnal rain; ! 

Her soul mth fervor kindled ; 

Communed with soul's domain. I 

\ 

This was the Day of Atonement , 

Set by her ancient rite — ; 

Set by the faith of her Fathers, j 

Her sole religious light. j 

\ I 

Pure as a soul untrammeled 

By contaminating sod; 
Yet, like repentant sinner, 

She sought the House of God. ; 

The rain poured down in torrents 

Over the sheltered head j 

Of a sprightly maiden hastening i 

With animated tread. i 



20 Spring Prayer and Other Poems 



She heeded not the torrents, 

The cold autumnal rain; 
Her heart was warm with kindness, 

With love and deeds humane. 

This was a day for kindness. 

For acts of sympathy 
Taught by her faith of the Saviour, 

Her creed of Humanity. 

An angel protecting the weak, 
The young shielded the old ; 

Up to the temple she led her, 
Sheltered from rain and cold. 



FEBRUAEY 

Fast falls the snow in spangles white 
Embracing close earth's frozen breast. 
Beneath the sparkling canopy 
Restfully sleep the baby buds. 
Until returning summer's smile 
Alighting on their nodding heads, 
Revives each sleeping beauty 
Yonder dreaming of sunny days. 



Spring Prayer cmd Other Poems 21 



SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST! 

A burly brute — a coward — 
Bushed from a sinking ship. 
Heedless of his helpless mates, 
Who moaned and groaned like death, 
He pushed and cursed and fought his way- 
Alas, his life was saved. 

Another on this fated ship, 
Of body slight but big of soul 
Bravely calmed the frenzied mob 
As one by one was saved. 
And as the last jumped from the deck 
A crash and splash were heard — 
An angry eddy marked the tomb 
Wliere ship and hero sank. 



22 Spring Prayer and Other Poems 



A VALENTINE \ 

Come, let me pass, my bonnie lass, \ 

The fortress of your heart \ 

To enrapture and to capture \ 

The forge of Cupid's dart. ; 

0, noble soul, my cherished goal \ 

That taught me love to know! I 

To you I pray this simple lay \ 

With love's incessant glow. ■; 

i 

Your sweet face beams through daylight dreams ■ 

In my distracted eye; | 

And when dark night dispels the light ] 

Your face in stars I spy. I 

j 

Fairest flower — noblest dower ! l 

You, and only you, I woo. | 

come to me and let us be j 

Lovers blithe, forever true. 1 



Spring Prayer and Other Poems 23 

TO A PHYSICIAN ON HER BIRTHDAY 

An Acrostic 

Ennobling spirit and healing heart, 
Triumphant star of your ascending sex! 
How lofty yet earthly your souPs ideal ! 
Ever giving your genial smile and aid 
Like Good Samaritan and loving maid. 

May blessings grow and ripening hopes bestrew, 
As constant as flowers in returning Mays, 
Your life's long path with golden days. 



24 Spring Prayer and Other Poems 



NEWARK 

"WTiere the calm Passaic glides into the bay 
That joins its modest course with the Hudson's 

flow 
Whose praise a thousand legends loudly sing, 
There grows a mighty city unobserved 
By great historian or poet's eye. 
There, like glorious Eome on Palatine hills, 
Proud Newark with nigh half a million souls 
Modestly prospers and bids for highest fame. 

Unlike some cities built within a day, 
That lured the transient settler to their gates; 
Two centuries and one half now mark 
Venerable Newark's mature and fruitful age. 
Upward through all these years she forged her 

way 
By energetic work and honest trade. 
Till now New Jersey's highest rank she holds 
And vies witli the largest of our land. 
Thrift multiplied her industries and wealth 
And raised her banner in all useful fields. 
There flows the traffic, a rich and steady stream, 
With rapid pulse of strong commercial life ; 
There tower the factory stacks high in the air — 
Huge smoking torches of industrial fire. 



Spring Prayer and Other Poems 25 



Yet through the darkest smoke of noisy mill 
A brighter view of Newark homes is seen, 
Where well-paid toil enjoys his peaceful hearth 
And swells his manly chest with civic pride. 
The shady trees that grace the city's streets, 
The well-kept parks that still hold nature's own, 
The model schools that lead in learning's light 
To science, art and manual skill. 
The city 's rule that seeks the common good — 
These are but few of Newark's many claims 
That set it higher than cities more renowned. 

Then sing, proud Newark, for well you may. 
'Tis meet you celebrate with joyful song 
In which your sister cities can unite. 
And with sincerest acclamation sing 
The praises of the one time little town 
That from a theosophic acorn grew 
Into a great and mighty civic oak. 



26 Spring Prayer and Other Poems 



OUR LEADER 

Sept., 1915 

Lead on, Leader, nobly wise ; 
As ever, truth and justice prize ! 
You showed a statesman's master-mind 
Whose creed all future lands will bind. 
You taught the world that right is might ; 
Great men reason where small men fight; 
That oft the resolute seem weak 
And bravest souls appear most meek ; 
That giant strength in patience lies 
And Gordian knots good will unties. 

Lead on, Leader, crowned with fame ! 
A hundred million bless your name. 
Let despots war, with hearts of steel. 
Till mad ambition makes them reel ; 
Let hirelings seek to cloud the truth 
And make of man a beast uncouth. 
You know the path that leads aright 
Through old-world plots as black as night 
Which, hatched in slavery's darkest clime, 
Still mar the tales of freedom 's time ; 
You know the lore of Clio's realm 
To you we trust the Nation's helm. 



Spring Prayer and Other Poems 27 



Lead on, O Leader, tried and true! 
A world unbalanced looks to you 
To set the scales of justice straight 
And show that love outweighs man's hate; 
To teach again that strife should cease, 
Even as taught the Prince of Peace. 
The warring hosts respect your word 
For truth is mighty once 'tis heard. 
Heed not the jingo's teasing taunts, 
Nor what the craven weakling wants. 
But war or peace we pledge to you, 
With heart and hand, allegiance true. 
Then lead to victory, lead to peace, 
Good will among all by deeds increase. 
And when historians meet their task 
And ' ' How did Wilson lead ? ' ' they ask, 
Then in our annals it will be said 
'*As Washington and Lincoln led." 



28 Spring Prayer and Other Poems 

VOICES 

{Dedicated to Liberty Loan Campaigns) 

Out of Eternity's most sacred Hall of Fame 
Where Liberty's heroes wrote their names in 

blood and flame 
The souls of Washington and Lafayette exclaim, 

^^Lend!" 
Out of the bleeding hearts of those who fight and 

fall 
And give for Liberty's life their life and all — 
Out of the hungry mouths in ruined homes the call, 

^^Lend!" 
Out of the souls of countless babes as yet unborn 
Come cries as though their limbs by beasts are 

torn . . . 
**Save, save us" they plead ^'from a Kaiser's 

pride and scorn — 

Lend!" 

Lend that our dead may not have died in vain, 

Nor the living be doomed to bear a Kaiser 's chain. 

For them who fight a million-fold murderous Cain, 

^^Lend!" 



Spring Prayer and Other Poems 29 

THE SONG OF THE ^^SUB^' 

{Indebtedness to T. H,) 

With brain too tired to think, 

With body too weary to work, 

A struggling ^^Sub'' clung to her job 

Teaching day in, day out. 

^^Sub— sub— sub'' 

Drearily dinned in her ear; 

And still with a heart that hoped and prayed \ 

She sang the ' ' Song of the ' Sub ' ". j 

j 
' ' Sub — sub — sub — ' 

For hunger wants his bread; 

Sub — sub — sub — 

Till youth and hope have fled. j 

It's oh, to be a ^sub' J 

And drudge from day to day; ! 

To yield the best that one can give i 

And then be turned away. j 



Sub — sub — sub — 
Till the heart begins to sink ; 

Sub — sub — sub — 
Till the brain no more can think. 

Cram and worry and work. 

Work and worry and cram, 
And then the very noblest aim 

Is shattered by an *exam.' 



30 Spring Prayer and Other Poems \ 

— ^ j 



O men, mth sisters dear! 

O men, with brothers and friends ! 

'Tis not a convict's soul you try 

But teachers ' who work with brain and hands. 

Sub — sub — sub — 
Each day the task renew; 
Filling a teacher's useful place 
Yet getting no teacher's due." 

With brain too tired to think, ] 

With body too weary to work, j 

The struggling *'Sub" clung to her job I 

Teaching day in, day out. | 

^^Sub— sub— sub" I 

Drearily dinned in her ear; ! 
And still with a heart that hoped and prayed 
She sang the ' ' Song of the ^ Sub " '. 



Spring Prayer and Other Poems 31 



TO A FRIEND ON HIS WEDDING-DAY 

AYhen friendship's eye scans youth's lingering 

past 
Enshrined in faithful heart till memory's last, 
HoAv mighty looms each trifling youthful scene 
Upon the present's reminiscent screen! 
How trifling these thoughts, yet sweetly sublime — 
Oases on the desert sands of Time . . . 
And now with sacred friendship's longing thirst 
For future memories to crown the first, 
I quaif the nectar from the desert-spring 
And ope my heart this wedding-wish to sing. 

Bright as the brightest day in sunny June, 
When Love and Joy with our souls commune, 
Fraught with the fruit of true love's golden tree^ 
Like a tropical harvest may your future be ; 
May fortune smile her fondest smile on you. 
Forever constant and forever true — 
Aye, bear these blessings to life's farthest end, 
And in your heart the Amen of your friend. 



32 Spring Prayer and Other Poems 



THE ESSENCE OF LIFE 

A little joy, a little sorrow, 

And to-day disappears. 
Making way for to-morrow 

Which in turn weaves the years. 

Hours of pleasure, days of pain. 

And the years roll away, 
Welding to an endless chain 

New links that spell decay. 

Alas ! fleeting years, fading hopes, 
Extend the bounds of care ; 

And resignation abruptly slopes 
The path which all must share. 

Yet we linger, always pining 

For some distant goal. 
Till 'neath star of hope still shining 

Life's last dream frees the soul. 



THE CYCLE DIVINE 

Out of the vast Unknown — a God— - 
A living force of love and light. 
Out of the breath of God — a man 
To crown creation's master-plan. 
Out of perfected man — a God — 
A spirit to guide the world aright. 



Spring Prayer and Other Poems 33 



ALONE 

"A great city is a great solitude." — Greek Proverb 

I mingle with the throngs that drudge 
Or strive for Mammon's throne; 

I meet and greet a passing smile, 
But ah, I feel alone. 

I mingle where the sated feast 

Or where the hungry groan; 
Where millions swarm like stars above, 

I feel alone . . . alone. 

I mingle with the daily din 

A deeper, softer tone ; 
But lonely echoes seem to mock — 

Alone, alone, alone. 



POETRY 

Who can fathom the secret of the rose's blush 
Or know what tunes the golden throat of thrush? 
A thousand passions in joy or anguish throng — 
Ah, who can define the soul a-song! 



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